St. Paul Calendar

Color: Green

Old Testament: Isaiah 45:1–7
Psalm: Psalm 96:1–9; antiphon: v. 9a
Psalm: Psalm 96; antiphon: v. 9a
Epistle: 1 Thessalonians 1:1–10
Gospel: Matthew 22:15–22
Introit: Psalm 121:1–4, 7–8; antiphon: v. 5
Gradual: Psalm 91:11; 103:1
Verse: Colossians 2:10

We Are Recreated in the Image of God by the Cross of Christ
 
Plotting against Jesus, the Pharisees attempted “to entangle him in his words” by asking about the payment of taxes to Caesar (Matt. 22:15). The Lord pointed to coins required for the tax, and He answered that we should “render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s” (Matt. 22:21). But if coins bearing the image of Caesar should be rendered to him, then man — who is made in the image of God — must be rendered to the Lord. That tax is paid for us by the Lord Jesus, the image of God in the flesh, by His self-offering on the cross. And from His cross, as the Lord’s anointed, He reigns as the true Caesar over all nations “from the rising of the sun and from the west” (Is. 45:6). The Lord once called and anointed Cyrus “to subdue nations before him and to loose the belts of kings” (Is. 45:1). Now by the preaching of the Gospel, “in power and in the Holy Spirit” (1 Thess. 1:5), foreigners from all over the world are “turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God” (1 Thess. 1:9–10). 

Lectionary summary © 2021 The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Used by permission. http://lcms.org/worship

Color: Red

Old Testament: Isaiah 35:5–8
Psalm: Psalm 147:1–11; antiphon: v. 12
Epistle: 2 Timothy 4:5–18
Gospel: Luke 10:1–9
Introit: Psalm 92:1–5; antiphon: Luke 24:46–47
Gradual: Psalm 119:105, 103; 45:1a, c
Verse: Luke 19:9b, 10

St. Luke, Evangelist
 
The Lord bids us to “pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest” (Luke 10:2). The fields look more like deserts, filled with jackals (Is. 35:6–7), and the Lord sends His laborers out “as lambs in the midst of wolves.” But Christ’s Word of “peace” heals the sick and brings the very “kingdom of God … near” to those who hear it (Is. 35:5; Luke 10:3–9). St. Luke, the beloved physician (Col. 4:14), did “the work of an evangelist” (2 Tim. 4:5). He diligently prepared both a Gospel, the history of Christ’s work in the flesh before His ascension, and the Acts of the Apostles, the history of His continued work among His Church. Luke and his Scriptures are a gift from this ascended Lord (Eph. 4:8–12), written for Theophilus and for “all who have loved his appearing” (2 Tim. 4:5–8). Tradition suggests that Luke was one of the 72 sent out ahead of Jesus, “two by two” (Luke 10:1). Luke proved himself to be a faithful companion throughout St. Paul’s missionary journeys, through many trials and crosses, and even to Rome, where he alone was with Paul.

Lectionary summary © 2021 The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Used by permission. http://lcms.org/worship

Color: Red

First Reading: Acts 15:12–22a
Psalm: Psalm 133; antiphon: v. 1
Epistle: James 1:1–12
Gospel: Matthew 13:54–58
Introit: Psalm 31:1, 3, 5; antiphon: Revelation 7:14b
Gradual: Psalm 48:10–11
Verse: Psalm 116:15

St. James of Jerusalem, Brother of Jesus and Martyr
 
“A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and in his own household” (Matt. 13:58). James the Just was once offended at Jesus’ “wisdom and … mighty works” (Matt. 13:54). But he came to faith following His resurrection, when Jesus appeared to him (1 Cor. 15:7). He then became a leader of the Early Church in Jerusalem, present at the council recorded in Acts 15. There James recognized from the prophets that Jesus was the Lord “known from of old” and returned to rebuild David’s fallen tent and restore it, “that the remnant of mankind may seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles who are called by my name” (Acts 15:16–18). “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness” (James 1:2–3). Josephus and other historians record that James was martyred by stoning in the 60s A.D. “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him” (James 1:12).

Lectionary summary © 2021 The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Used by permission. http://lcms.org/worship

Color: Green

Old Testament: Leviticus 19:1–2, 15–18
Psalm: Psalm 1; antiphon: v. 1a
Epistle: 1 Thessalonians 2:1–13
Gospel: Matthew 22:34–46
Introit: Psalm 9:1–2, 9–10; antiphon: v. 18
Gradual: Psalm 91:11; 103:1
Verse: Matthew 22:37b

In Divine and Holy Love, the Lord Jesus Sanctifies Us by the Gospel of His Cross
 
The people of God are to be holy as He is holy. Therefore, we should fear, love and trust in Him above all things, and in such faith “you shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Lev. 19:18). Such faith toward God and love for the neighbor are the two great commandments upon which “depend all the Law and the Prophets” (Matt. 22:40). The Lord, our God Himself, has fulfilled His Law on our behalf — in His great love for us, with all His heart and soul and mind, and in a body of flesh and blood like ours. David’s Lord has become David’s Son, so that all our enemies might be put under His feet and that we might be exalted to the right hand of God in Him (Matt. 22:43–45). So His servants bear His cross in faith and love. For the sake of the Gospel, they suffer persecution for their work, bearing their burdens in gentleness, “like a nursing mother taking care of her own children” (1 Thess. 2:7). In like manner and with tender affection, they exhort and encourage “like a father with his children” (1 Thess. 2:11–12).

Lectionary summary © 2021 The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Used by permission. http://lcms.org/worship

Color: Red

Old Testament: Jeremiah 26:1–16
Psalm: Psalm 43; antiphon: v. 5b
Epistle: 1 Peter 1:3–9
Gospel: John 15:17–21
Gospel: John 15:12–21
Introit: Psalm 89:1, 5, 15–16; antiphon: Psalm 119:46
Gradual: Romans 10:15b, 18b; Isaiah 52:7b, alt.
Verse: John 15:16a

St. Simon and St. Jude, Apostles
 
“Speak to them; do not hold back a word” (Jer. 26:1–6). The Word is always repentance for the forgiveness of sins (Luke 24:44) — “great mercy” and “a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:3). “If they kept my word,” says Jesus, “they will also keep yours,” but “if the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you” (John 15:18–21). In Jeremiah’s day, the people demanded he die, but they did not bring his “innocent blood” on themselves (Jer. 26:8–16). When the priests and people gathered around Jesus, they refused to hear (Matt. 27:20–26). Christ’s servants will not be above their master (John 15:20). According to tradition, Simon (the Zealot) and Jude (also known as Thaddaeus) worked to bring the Gospel to Persia, where they were martyred together. But even in this, God’s servants are “more than conquerors” (Rom. 8:37). “Though … tested by fire” and suffering, we obtain “the outcome of [our] faith, the salvation of [our] souls,” and rejoice (1 Peter 1:6–9). For as Jesus told Jude, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him” (John 14:23).

Lectionary summary © 2021 The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Used by permission. http://lcms.org/worship

Color: Red

First Reading: Revelation 14:6–7
Psalm: Psalm 46; antiphon: v. 7
Epistle: Romans 3:19–28
Gospel: John 8:31–36
Gospel: Matthew 11:12–19
Introit: Psalm 34:1–2, 11, 22; antiphon: Psalm 119:46
Gradual: Psalm 48:1a, 12–14a
Verse: Luke 12:32

The Son of God Has Set Us Free from Sin and Death by His Grace
 
“Wisdom is justified by her deeds” (Matt. 11:19), and the true Wisdom of God, Christ Jesus, the incarnate Son, has justified us by His deeds. He prepares His way by the preaching of repentance, but He has suffered the violence of the Law and voluntarily handed Himself over to violent men, that we might eat and drink with Him in His kingdom and “remain in the house forever” (John 8:35). He is “a friend of tax collectors and sinners” (Matt. 11:18–19), and He has rescued us by His grace from the slavery of sin and death. By the proclamation of His eternal Gospel “to those who dwell on earth, to every nation and tribe and language and people” (Rev. 14:6), “the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law” (Rom. 3:21), “that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus” (Rom. 3:26). And by the hearing of that Gospel of Christ Jesus, “whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith” (Rom. 3:25), “you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:31–32).

Lectionary summary © 2021 The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Used by permission. http://lcms.org/worship